Quick answer: The ministry of corporate affairs (MCA) is the central government ministry that writes and enforces India’s company law. It administers the Companies Act, 2013, the LLP Act, 2008 and the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code, 2016. Its MCA21 V3 portal is where every Indian company is incorporated and files its returns.
- MCA21 V2 filing was permanently disabled on 18 June 2025.
- The final 38 company forms, including AOC-4 and MGT-7, went live on MCA21 V3 on 14 July 2025.
- SPICe+ (INC-32) gives eleven services from three central ministries and departments in one incorporation form.
- MCA charges no incorporation fee for authorised capital up to ₹15 lakh.
What does the MCA control for a foreign-owned company?
Almost every corporate milestone in your company’s life, from its name to its closure.
The ministry sets the rules. Its field offices apply them. Your state Registrar of Companies keeps your file, Regional Directors hear certain approvals, and the NCLT decides contested matters such as mergers.
Bodies linked to the ministry include the Competition Commission of India, the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Board of India, the National Financial Reporting Authority and the Serious Fraud Investigation Office. You’ll rarely meet most of them.
What you will meet, every month, is the portal.
What is the MCA portal, and what moved to V3?
The mca portal is MCA21, the ministry’s online filing system, and V3 is now the only live version.
The move came in stages. V2 filing ended on 18 June 2025, and the remaining 38 forms switched to V3 on 14 July 2025, according to KS&K’s note on the 38-form migration. So any guide still showing V2 screens is out of date.
V3 also hosts SPICe+, the incorporation form. Here is what it packs into one filing.
| Bundled in SPICe+ | Notes |
|---|---|
| Company incorporation and CIN | Part A reserves the name, Part B incorporates |
| DIN | For up to three proposed directors |
| PAN and TAN | Printed on the Certificate of Incorporation |
| EPFO and ESIC registration | Through the linked AGILE-PRO-S web form |
| Professional Tax, GSTIN, bank account | Professional Tax in some states, GSTIN optional |
Every one of these filings is signed with a Digital Signature Certificate. No DSC, no filing.
Do you need an MCA login if you hire through an EOR?
No. With an EOR, the MCA relationship belongs to the EOR’s own Indian company, which files its own returns on V3 and appoints its own auditor.
You only need MCA21 credentials once you form your own private limited company or LLP. That makes sense when you will sign Indian customers, own Indian assets or keep a large team for years. Our guide on how to set up a subsidiary in India covers that path.
When does Remunance help with MCA filings?
Remunance forms India subsidiaries for clients who outgrow the EOR model, and it can move your EOR staff to the new entity when it’s ready. Until then, your team sits on Remunance Services Pvt Ltd, an entity with its own MCA record. Through it, we’ve hired 1,200+ people for clients in 34 Indian cities. If you’re weighing the switch, plan your India entity with us.
What else do people ask about the ministry of corporate affairs?
What does MCA mean in India?
MCA stands for the Ministry of Corporate Affairs. It’s the regulator behind the Companies Act, 2013 and the MCA21 filing portal.
Is the MCA the same as the ROC?
No. The MCA is the ministry. The ROC is one of its field offices, handling registration and filings for companies in a given state or region.
Can a foreign director use the MCA portal?
Yes. A foreign director registers on MCA21 V3, obtains a DIN and signs forms with a DSC. Supporting documents usually need notarisation or embassy attestation in the home country.